car still drifting left on general exclaim uhp after alignment

[carsontl]

Hey guys, got the car aligned before winter started and noticed the car had a slight left pull and took it back. They re-ran everything and alignment checked out again.

I put on my winter tires and the car didn't really have a left pull anymore, which obviously means something's up with my summer tires.

I have hankook ventus v12's in the back and general exclaim uhp's in the front...

Should I take the generals off and put on hankooks on the front or is it possible to take the rubber off the left and right wheels and swap them to see if the issue goes away?

Broke as hell, so hoping the second option is viable

I've also noticed that as soon as my car finds any divot in the road it will immediately jump ship in a different direction... it won't just stay the course.

[gr330zhp]

Well have you checked tire pressure? :dunno

[carsontl]

Well have you checked tire pressure? :dunno

Yessir, I'm just so tired of driving with the steering wheel just slightly cocked to the right so the car will drive straight, it can't be good for the car.

[gr330zhp]

Yessir, I'm just so tired of driving with the steering wheel just slightly cocked to the right so the car will drive straight, it can't be good for the car.

I totally understand, I just got an alignment yesterday myself. Well, ya know, where did you get the alignment? I have heard that some shops really might not do it to spec, especially with a ZHP. I mean, I know you don't want to get another one, but idk

[carsontl]

I totally understand, I just got an alignment yesterday myself. Well, ya know, where did you get the alignment? I have heard that some shops really might not do it to spec, especially with a ZHP. I mean, I know you don't want to get another one, but idk

At NTB at first, but they refunded my money and said to take it to the local BMW shop. I took it there and had them do it twice and it still drifts.

note: i believe the alignment to be ok, simply because winter tires don't drift like the summer ones do. I am curious if it's doable to just take the rubber off the left and put it on the right and vice versa to see if it fixes the issue?

note #2: BMW tech says it's because they are "cheap directional tires" and follow the road... which I've never experienced before

[LivesNearCostco]

Is the steering wheel straight with the winter tires on? If it were my car, i would try swapping the front General Exclaim UHPs left to right. It's not a good idea to run them like this in the long-run if they are directional, but driving 5 miles like this on dry roads should be okay to test. Just don't drive them backwards in the rain if they have directional tread.

[carsontl]

Is the steering wheel straight with the winter tires on? If it were my car, i would try swapping the front General Exclaim UHPs left to right. It's not a good idea to run them like this in the long-run if they are directional, but driving 5 miles like this on dry roads should be okay to test. Just don't drive them backwards in the rain if they have directional tread.

I was thinking of just spending the $40 or w/e to have the rubber taken off the front wheels and swapped, i think that's doable right?

[Mr Paul]

I was thinking of just spending the $40 or w/e to have the rubber taken off the front wheels and swapped, i think that's doable right?

Yes, its doable but costco's idea is free and will only take a half hour of your time. If you are broke as hell I'd go this route.

I'd start by first swapping both fronts left to right and if that doesn't work switch them back and switch the rears left to right. Only change one variable at a time. Obviously don't leave them like this or you car will be dangerous in the wet.

[SoarinZHP]

I would assume the dealer would have alerted you to any worn or bent parts. Does it matter what lane you're in? A lot of cars kind of follow the crown in the road. Also, visible wearing in the road surface of the lane can make the car pull...

Have you had the tires balanced recently? You could always have them rotate the tire 90 or 180 degrees on the rim and see if that helps...

[Jorge86]

I have a set of 2353519 in my Acura 3.2cl.
When I bought it it had nitto 555. The car drive like a dream. I then bought general exclaim uhp because they would last longer. As soon as I got them I could tell the difference, they drive bad. They follow the road a lot. They are hard rubber and are noisy. But they last longer. It's my second set
And I can say that I would not use them in the BMW. The Acura i don't really care , but I would recc swapping front tires from side to side. It's common to have a tire pull on directional tires even on more expensive tires

[zj96sc]

The real solution? Get a good set of 4 matching tires. With staggered widths and such a tight chassis and suspension design, these cars are Very sensitive to tires, two different brands is just asking for trouble. If you can't afford to properly shod your car, that's a tough situation. Could try unmounting the fronts and swapping, but it isn't great to repeatedly mount and unmount tires either. Driving on the directionals backwards is not a valid test - this is not a viable permanent solution so resolution here is useless even if you did find it.

Last thing you describe sounds like tramlining - again a sign of a cheap tire and/or a tire that just happens to not play nice with your car's dynamics. Some are known for it, some are not. My first ZHP on potenzas was very bad about it, current one on hankooks not so much.

I've never heard a single good thing about General tires, street or offroad.

Good luck with it.

[carsontl]

Thanks for the advice everyone.. Looks like I have a decision to make.

[LivesNearCostco]

I suppose zj is right, swapping left-right is no solution but rather a way to confirm whether the pull is in your tires or alignment. If you confirm it's the tires, you probably have to replace them. Many years ago my old Saturn had some Cooper tires from Pep Boys. After the tread was about half gone, the car started pulling to one side. Took it to the Saturn dealer (RIP) and they said your alignment is fine, the tread is lopsided or has a slipped belt. Sho'nuf, after rotating tires, it drove straight. I just lived with it until the tires were done then started buying Bridgestones from Costco.

[carsontl]

Hankook vents v12 is what I got in the back. I'll just get them for the front. I got a cc I can use